Dudley's police station to be turned into flats

Planning officers at Dudley Council gave the green light to proposals to create 14 flats on the basement and ground floor levels of the building on the corner of New Street in the town centre.

The building was closed in 2017 as part of cost-cutting measures.

West Midlands Police is pressing ahead with plans to build a huge new HQ in Dudley to replace a number of crumbling smaller stations around the borough and had a bid accepted in June 2019 for land off Hall Street.

But the project has been hit with delays due to legal complexities around the purchase and, at a Strategic Policing and Crime Board meeting in March, chief constable Dave Thompson likened the deal to “buying a house”.

Agents Planning Design & Build Ltd said the redevelopment will feature 11 one bedroom and three two bedroom apartments.

One of them will be created where the old cells were, giving people a unique view once enjoyed by prisoners.

After granting planning permission, officers said: “The proposed development is acceptable in principle, causes no harm to amenity and would have significant impact on the historic environment.

“Moreover, there are no fundamental highway safety concerns.

“In dealing with this, the authority worked with the applicant in a positive and proactive manner, seeking solutions to problems arising in relation to dealing with the application, by seeking to help the applicant resolve technical detail issues where required and maintaining the delivery of sustainable development.

“The development would improve the economic, social and environmental concerns of the area.”

In the application, Planning Design & Build Ltd said: “The proposal will enhance the character of the conservation area by repairing and bringing back into use a locally listed building of previous office use.

“The proposed use will facilitate the repair and preservation of this existing building to a sustainable use by key workers and students.”